Adaline was recently chosen as one of the twenty finalists for the Peak Performance Project. The Peak Performance Project is sponsored by the 100.5 The Peak FM and Music BC.
The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, $5.29 million contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. The project was created by 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists. Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. Artists will benefit from mentor-ships from some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. All of these artists will have the chance to perform live in Vancouver on the PEAK Performance Stage. Of these twenty artists, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development. First place receives $150,000; second place receives $75,000; and third place receives $50,000.
Interview:
Brian: Tell us about your music and what your musical history has been.
Adaline: Describing my musical style has always been a bit tricky since I have a somewhat eclectic sound – I used to say “electronic folk pop”, but that always raised eyebrows in confusion. I’ve discovered it’s best to use terms others have used to describe me – I was recently dubbed “pop-noir” which I think is pretty accurate – my music tends to be on the moody, sensual side – it’s a little dark. I began playing live in Vancouver in 2005, took a bit of a break in 2007 to record my debut album, “Famous For Fire” and since it was released in April 2008, I have been touring and promoting it heavily. Music became my life once that album was sent into the world.
Listen to the track Chemical Spill
Brian: Tell us a little bit of how your summer went, from being selected as one of the artists to participate in the project to being selected as a finalist.
Adaline: I found out I was a finalist while I was in vacation in Hawaii – my brother (who plays electric guitar in my band and on the album) was getting married there, so it was the cherry on the sundae for sure! From that moment I have been working hard at gathering my fanbase and getting them ready for the biggest promotional push I’ve ever done. It’s hard when you have fans scattered on so many different social media’s. It is literally a full-time job making sure they know what is going on and what they can do to help. Since the competition is almost over, I definitely have a “push to the finish line” mentality which has really helped with my work ethic. I really love engaging with my fanbase, so this has been exciting for me.
Brian: What has been the most rewarding aspect throughout the project thus far?
Adaline: There are so many things, it’s hard to focus on one. In fact, I don’t think I can! Here are a few highlights: becoming friends with the other participants, building a sense of community within the BC Music Scene has been incredibly rewarding. Having my fans rally behind me and push for people to vote has been inspiring and wonderfully overwhelming. Meeting the music industry professionals at the Peak Bootcamp was an incredible experience and so beneficial to my career. Getting the $3500 from The Performance Project and getting to make my first music video was something I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own and I’ve had such incredible response since the video was released last week – it has become a powerful promotional tool for me. If I had to say what was the most rewarding aspect, it would be just to be involved, to be selected. There are so many musicians out there making music and trying to have their music heard. Being involved in this, getting radioplay and media exposure is invaluable. I’m very lucky.
Brian: There are some great artists and bands and you are in great company with the list of finalists. What sets your music apart from the other finalists?
Adaline: There are so many different musical styles in the Top 19 – it’s great to have such vareity. Obviously being a woman sets me apart, (there are only 5), but overall I think my music creates a bridge between pop and performance art – it’s accessible/marketable, yet creative. I also have a lot of variety in my performance – with my music I can play a solo show on piano, a pulsing show with my full band and electronics, and a show with my chamber orchestra with classical instrumentation. What stays the same is I always pour out my heart on the stage.
Brian: How do you feel about The Peak, Music BC and Jim Pattison Group of Companies stepping up to assist the growth of BC musicians while the provincial government has reduced funding to many programs. This is a significant contribution of $5.29 million over seven-years.
Adaline: I’ve been talking about this a lot lately. It is absolutely incredible to have this funding in the midst of arts cuts. Money, which would normally be associated with greed and “stuff” is something completely different to an artist. To a musician money is the possibility of creativity and freedom of expression: the possibility of making music and having it be heard. The money Jim Pattison is giving back is going to give that freedom and power to numerous BC artists over the next 7 years. With that money, we will establish BC artists in Canada and across International borders. It’s amazing.
Peak Performance Project Sponsors:
